"We have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6% of its population.Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships
which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming and our attention will have to be
concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives. We should cease to talk about vague and unreal objectives such as human rights, the raising of the living standards, and democratization. The day is
not far off when we are going to have to deal in straight power concepts. The less we are then hampered by idealistic slogans, the better".

George Kennan, Director of the Policy Planning Staff of the U.S. Department of State, 1948.